The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-19

ny, OF patience, OF genius, we knew
not. The word that stabs you like a
poniard cuts new channel for the
Holy Ghost. The insult that was in
tended to sprinkle ashes on your head,
makes you rise from the dust and fling
away your sack-cloth forever. He who
cheats you out of your dues makes you
strive to be more deserving. The me-
mace that was intended to bully its Oh
ject into imbecility makes him man
4. There is nothing hateful or un-
slightly in the world from which we may
not learn something. Every day we see
things that shock and pain US, but they
have their lessons. The disagreeable
things of life are ministering angels,
though they wear soiled garments and
are surrounded by unwholesome odors.
When they asked Lokman, the fabulist,
"From whom did you learn manners?"
he answered, "From the unmannerly."
The results of tendency seen in
their maturity have been effective warn
ings to many. The best lesson against
profanity is profane swearer; the
best preventive of drunkenness is a
drunkard; the strongest dissuasive from
vice is one who exhibits it's finished
work. Take examples less extreme
ill-temper, fault finding, peevishness,
incivility; look at such trait in any per-
son whom it has come to master, and if
the beginnings are all ready in us, we
will make all haste to crush them out.
II will never become like that %
l shall not be misunderstood when 1
say that great sin has often been the
salvation of soul. Some monstrous in
guilty has opened the sinners eye to the
abyss. One drunken fit has saved many
a man from drunkard's grave. The
horror has prevented a habit. Other
sins have opened mems eyes to the pos
sibilities of evil in their hearts and have
made them humble and watchful for
ever. He who thought he was stand
ing has learned to take heed lest he fall
Thus in the grief of sin there is wis
dom; in the sorrows of sin there is
knowledge. 1t is fearful price to pay,
but most men will only learn at such
terrific cost. Says George Eliot: "There
is no shortcut, no patent tram-road to
wisdom. After all the centuries of in
vention, the souls path lies through
the thorny wilderness which must still
be trodden in solitude, with bleeding
feet, with sobs for help, as it was trod-
den by them Of old time"
5. Of the actual calamities of life I
can say but little. The grief they bring,
brings wisdom with it. The SORROWS
they multiply increase our knowledge.
When the props upon which we have
rested are knocked away, we come to
ourselves. Disaster and loss snatch our
clutches that we may find our feet.
Whatever teaches the lesson of self-re-
lance is worth the utmost farthing it
cost. Man was made to depend upon
himself, but is always seeking to shift
his responsibilities. His very sins he
lays at the door of others. 1t needs
the shattering of everything in which
he trusted to strengthen his knees and
stiffen his back. Trust yourselves.
Think, act, assume, dare. What if you
have lost your property, been betrayed
by your friends, deserted by your sup
porters, maligned by your foes-the en-
tire universe is leagued upon the side
Of him who has courage to attempt for
himself. The gods themselves are par
tizans of the brave. Make bold step
and the world bristles with defensive
armies
Walking by the river bank in early
March, was suddenly startled into
the consciousness that spring was COM
ing back. The snow lay in scattered
patches, and what remained was rapid
ly melting away. 1 noticed for the
first time that tiny blades of green were
pushing their way up through the grass
that was dead and brown. The buds Of
an alder at my feet were swelling with
new life, and the branches of the tree
above me gave promise of returning
leaves. The angel Of resurrection had
gone forth, Embossed the graves of win
ter, and his voice was on the air, say
ing, "Come forth, o leaf and blossoml
Make glad the earth, o birds and
bowers !" And thought, who art thou,
o man, that repliest against the power
of God? The energy that worketh in
nature, that bringeth the triumph of
life over the ruins of death, will see to it
that out of thy wrecked hopes and am
billions, thy ruined past, thou shalt rise
to better things, to nobler and grand
or life
Let us say with Rabbi Ben Ezra:
"Then welcome each rebuff,
That turns earth's smoothness rough,
Each sting that bids nor sit, nor stand, but go!
Be our joys three parts pain,
Strive and hold cheap the strain,
Learn, nor account the pang; dare, nor grudge
the throe.''
In a recent address before the Con-
hoard NJ london rob Jooo.x,